thought that the knowledge of useful arts and obedience
to the laws formed a good citizen; though attended with errors in
subjects where it is not allowable for human nature to expect any
positive truth or certainty.

Complaints about this time were made, that the petition of right was
in some instances violated; and that, upon a commitment by the king and
council, bail or releasement had been refused to Jennings, Pargiter, and
Danvers.[****]

Williams, bishop of Lincoln, a man of spirit and learning, a popular
prelate, and who had been lord keeper, was fined ten thousand pounds by
the star chamber, committed to the Tower during the king's pleasure, and
suspended from his office. This severe sentence was founded on frivolous
pretences, and was more ascribed to Laud's vengeance, than to any guilt
of the bishop.[v] Laud, however, had owed his first promotion to the
good offices of that prelate with King James. But so implacable was the
haughty primate, that he raised up a new prosecution against Williams,
on the strangest pretence imaginable.

* Rush. vol. ii. p. 409, 418.

** Mather's History of New England, book i. Dugdale. Bates
Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts Bay, vol. i. p. 42.
This last quoted author puts the fact beyond controversy.
And it is a curious fact, as well with regard to the
characters of the men, as of the times. Can any one doubt
that the ensuing quarrel was almost entirety theological,
not political? What might be expected of the populace when
such was the character of the most enlightened Readers?

*** May, p. 82.

**** Rush. vol. ii. p. 414.

v Rush. vol. ii. p. 416, etc.

In order to levy the fine above mentioned, some officers had been sent
to seize all the furniture and books of his episcopal palace of Lincoln;
and in rummaging the house, they found in a corner some neglected
letters, which had been thrown by as useless. These letters were written
by one Osbaldistone, a schoolmaster, and were directed to Williams.
Mention was there made of "a little great man;" and in another passage,
the same person was denominated "a little urchin." By inferences and
constructions, these epithets were applied to Laud; and on no better
foundation was Williams tried anew, as having received scandalous
letters, and not discovering that private correspondence. For this
offence, another fine of eight thousand pounds was levied on him:
Osbal